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Use This County Probate Reference Before You File

This page is built for the detailed county-level checks that generic probate guides usually miss: local filing fees, Clerk & Master contact details, administrative orders, e-filing rules, and hearing logistics for Shelby County.

Local Fee Schedule

Review county-specific probate filing charges before you estimate total case cost.

Court Rules and Orders

Check the local rules, judge procedures, and administrative orders that can change how a case moves.

Clerk and Filing Logistics

Confirm where to file, whether e-filing is allowed, and how hearings or notices are handled locally.

Shelby County Probate Court Guide

Settled Estate records a $341.50+ court filing fee and a 4-month creditor claim period for the Shelby County Probate Court, read from 5 linked sources and last verified June 14, 2026.

By Settled Estate Editorial Team

Thirtieth Judicial District · Clerk & Master information · Updated June 2026

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Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

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Probate Filing Fees

Filing TypeFee
Formal Administration
Standard probate for larger estates
$342
Small Estate Affidavit
For estates under threshold (no court filing needed)
$0

Note: The all-in cost to open a full estate in Shelby County has been observed at approximately $341.50 (petition to probate a will) plus a publication fee of roughly $55. Since January 1, 2026, Tenn. Code Ann. 8-21-401(c)(1) sets one standard probate estate fee for a full administration and a small estate alike: $275 as of January 1, 2026, $300 as of January 1, 2027 and $325 as of January 1, 2028, before local litigation taxes, and the separate charter-county schedule in 8-21-409 is repealed. The $275 figure applies through December 31, 2026. A separate $41 small estate fee is no longer in the statute, and the county's current small estate total could not be read on 2026-10-07 (shelbycountytn.gov returned a Cloudflare challenge and has no Internet Archive capture), so it is not recorded. These amounts are not value-bracketed; Tennessee imposes no probate tax measured against estate value. Verify the current schedule with the Shelby County Probate Court Clerk before filing.

Required Documents

  • Certified Death Certificate

    Order several certified copies from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records ($15 each); the court and asset holders each need one.

  • Original Will

    If a will exists, the original must be filed with the Clerk and Master (or Probate Court). Tenn. Code Ann. 32-1-104 / 32-2-110.

  • Petition for Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration

    Opens the estate: Letters Testamentary when there is a will, Letters of Administration when there is none. Local Clerk and Master form.

  • Oath of the Personal Representative

    Signed and notarized oath of the executor or administrator.

  • Fiduciary Bond

    Required unless waived by the will or by the court/beneficiaries. Tenn. Code Ann. 30-1-201.

  • Order Admitting Will to Probate and Granting Letters

    The court order appointing the personal representative and (if applicable) admitting the will.

  • Notice to Creditors

    Published notice to creditors; the four-month claim period runs from first publication. Tenn. Code Ann. 30-2-306(b).

  • Inventory of the Estate

    Filed within 60 days of appointment unless waived by the will or all residuary distributees. Tenn. Code Ann. 30-2-301.

E-Filing & Filing Methods

Case SearchProbate Forms

Records portal

Check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.

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Filing Methods: in person

Timelines & Proceedings

Deadlines & Creditor Claims

Key Deadlines

Will Deposit
Verify locally
Creditor Claims
4 months

Creditor Claims

Period Starts
first publication of notice to creditors
Statute
Tenn. Code § 30-2-306

Related Proceedings

Property Recording

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